Page 58 of Caught Bear Handed

The palm that gripped the handle was soaked with sweat, and my grip felt less certain.I flailed, channeling all my strength to get my other hand back on the handle.Each move made my right hand slide.The jagged edges sliced my skin.Something wet fell on my face.

I had no idea how high up I was, or how deep the water ran below me.It could’ve been quicker and safer to jump, or it could be the last thing I ever did.

Finally I managed to get my hand back on the handle.Now to get moving again.It had to be fixable, or else Kayla would be in the same spot.

Or… No.I wouldn’t think about the worst-case scenario.

It took everything I had to swing my body forward with enough force to get moving again.Thank the moon and every freaking star in the sky that I didn’t fall into the river.

All I wanted was for this to be over.To have my feet on solid ground again.

I heard Gigi barking before I saw land.She was alive.She was safe.I’d tell myself that until I was proven otherwise.It took everything I had not to leap off this damn zip line.

Crashing onto the solid earth, I pushed myself up, ignoring my screaming muscles.Gigi’s barks intensified.She bumped against me, but it wasn’t like her regular disco dance greeting.

“I’m glad to see you too.”I reached for her head to pat her, but she wouldn’t let me.Not like her at all.“Where’s Kayla, girl?”

Gigi grabbed my shirt, pulling the fabric with a growl.

“What are you trying to tell me?”

I rose to my feet, scanning the unfamiliar land for Kayla.Gigi took off running and I followed until we were stopped by two familiar wolves guarding the men who had Kayla.

ChapterTwenty-Three

Kayla

These absolute motherfuckers.How were they constantly two steps ahead of us?I was more furious than scared when they greeted me on the other side of the river.

The ride on the zip line had gone surprisingly, uneventfully well.I’d been so worried about Gigi, but she’d done the ride like a champ.Landing had been rocky, and I’d given us both a second to recover.

We saw the wolves first.Silly me thought they’d be friendly, more like I was holding on to a pipe dream that the Sawtooth pack had come to usher us to safety.But Gigi wasn’t fooled.Her hackles were up, and she growled, baring her teeth.

I vowed that I wouldn’t let anything happen to her.But as those wolves dragged me away from Gigi, I realized we’d zipped right into their trap.

They dragged me through the dirt, their jaws incredibly strong.I wasn’t going down without a fight.My wolf was begging to make an appearance, but I pleaded with her to hold off just a few more minutes.

There were humans ahead, and as much as she wanted retribution, I wanted answers.

The wolves left me in a heap at their human overlords’ feet.I looked up to find Mark Peters, catfisher and stalker extraordinaire.No surprise there.He was with Mike, who seemed to be much more than a clueless Neanderthal getaway driver, and a few other familiar faces who had been so friendly when they’d wined and dined me out of my money in the first place.

“What the fuck do you want?”I spat.

Let me get answers for you.My wolf wanted out, but if I shifted, it would only mean one thing—fight.I was outnumbered and overpowered by the wolves already, and she could smell more.Some of these guys were shifters, and they’d managed to hide it from me before.

I didn’t have time to think about how they did it.

Mike leaned down and slapped a cuff around my wrist.It burned on contact.

“Silver?Are you serious?”I clenched my teeth as he roughly pulled my arm behind my back and cuffed the other wrist.

“Struggle all you want, sweetheart.”Mark’s voice dripped with condescension.“We have you exactly where we want you.”

The wolves circled me, baring their teeth.Every move I made sent a jolt of pure lava through my veins.I could hardly think straight.The longer the silver stayed in contact with my skin, the weaker I’d get.I wouldn’t be able to fight them, let alone shift.

Mike crouched down so we were eye to disgusting eye.I’d always known this guy wasn’t right.He was a shifter, but he wasn’t a wolf.At best, he might have been a coyote.His gaze was completely feral, and he chewed on a stick like it was candy.

“Don’t think you’re gonna pull another stunt like you did last time,” he said with a chuckle.“You should’ve been a good little wolf and gotten this over with.”